Deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for a sewerage suite



K- M. CROSS Aug. 29, 1967 DEODORISING AND DISINFECTING DISPENSER FOR A SEWERAGE SUITE Filed Oct. 21,- 1965 FIG? FIG.2

United States Patent ()fiice 3,338,473 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,473 DEODORISING AND DISINFECTING DISPENSER FOR A SEWERAGE SUITE Kenneth M. Cross, 88 Rochester St., Mount Druitt, New South Wales, Australia Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,706 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-57) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a device which is placed in the toilet tank or flushing system of a toilet unit or sewerage suite for deodorising the toilet or bathroom. Such device is normally submerged in the water contained in the cistern when the water level rises to its usual level after a flushing operation. The device contains a deodorising and/or disinfecting fluid of lighter specific gravity than the water in the cistern, the device being so constructed that it automatically dispenses the fluid contained therein in small amounts into the water at each flushing of the toilet, thereby effecting a deodorising and/or disinfecting operation. The fluid contained in the device may also be compounded to effect the cleaning of the toilet bowl and the water-conducting parts connected thereto.

' fluid to be dispensed.

In the following description of the invention, it is to be understood that the term fluid is meant to include any suitable form of liquid which will effect the deodorising and disinfecting as well as the cleansing of the parts of a sewerage suite, or for one or more of such stated purposes.

According to this invention, a deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like, includes a cap or cove-r for attachment to a container for holding a quantity of fluid to be dispensed, and is characterised by a dispensing member of substantially U-shape having its limbs extending through the said cap or cover so that the said member depends from the underside of said cap or cover, said dispensing member having one limb longer than the other and extending to a higher level above said cap or cover than the other limb, and at least one fluid supply port arranged in said dispensing member at a location under said cap or cover.

Both limb extremities are preferably cut across on the bias, that is at an angle. This is particularly important in respect of the long limb, so that the extremity is gradually uncovered or covered according to whether the water level in a cistern is receding or rising. Such end shaping prevents the formation of air locks.

In order to describe the invention more fully reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from the underside of the dispenser affixed to a cap, While FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the dispenser in its complete form in place on a container, and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation of a flushing cistern of known form showing the locating of the dispenser therein.

The dispensing member of the device generally indicated by the reference number 4 is of U-shape with one long limb 5 and a short limb 6 each having their extremities angled across at 7 and 8 respectively, and there is at least one small fluid supply port 9 provided in the long end limb 5.

In this example the dispensing member 4 is formed of copper tubing but it is not limited thereto and could be made of any other suitable material and in some cases may be of plastic material.

The limbs 5 and 6 of the. dispensing member 4 are fitted through the top of a screw-on type of cap 10 which may have in its interior any suitable form of gasket to effect a seal when said cap 10 is screwed on the neck of a container 11. This fitting of the limbs through the top of the cap 10 is effected in a liquid tight manner by known means suited to the requirement as for example, by a suitable sealing preparation.

The container 11 is conveniently a glass jar of any suitable size to hold a desired supply of fluid to be dispensed and it is not limited to this example and could be of any other shape, size or material and have the cap 10 attached thereto in any other known manner of attachment permitting of removal and replacement.

The fluid supply port 9 when the cap 10 is in place with the dispensing member 4 depending therefrom, in this example is close to the top wall of said cap and it may be of any size suited to the requirement, as for example from about .010" to .125" but is not limited to any particular size.

The fluid supply port 9 is not limited to the precise location shown in the drawing, but can be arranged at any other location in the dispensing member 4 under the cap 10. In some cases (not shown) this fluid supply port 9 can be formed through opposite locations, and in experiment the inventor has found that two or more supply ports 9 may be provided but this may not be economical in respect of the use of the fluid.

In the example of the application of the invention, shown in FIGURE 3, the cistern is one of known form containing a cistern body 12 with cover 13, a ball supply valve device generally referenced by numeral 14, and having a flushing valve 15 operated in usual manner. This cistern body 12 is shown containing water the level 16 of which is the normal one when the cistern is full.

In operation, the dispensing device 4-11 being placed on the bottom of a cistern as shown, the dispensing member 4 is filled with the water contained in said cistern and there is no head pressure created in the bore of said member. As soon as a flush takes place and the water level recedes, a greater pressure effect is created at the long limb 5 so that there is a tendency towards flow to the short limb 6, and as the latter is uncovered a suction effect or vacuum is created at such end thereby increasing the flow effect towards that end so that a charge of the fluid is drawn into the bore of the member through the supply port 9, and a water replacement flow takes place into the container through said port, and the mentioned fluid charge remains in the long limb 5.

Now as the level of the incoming water rises in the cistern after a flush, a pressure effect is exerted on the Water in the bore of the dispensing member 4 at the short limb 6 as the water level reaches same in advance of the long limb 5, and as the water level continues to rise and extend above the long limb 5 the charge of fluid is drawn out therefrom spreading over the water level. In this discharge -of the fluid the movement of the water in the bore of the dispensing member 4 towards the long limb 5 causes a further charge of the fluid to be drawn into the dispensing member 4 through supply port 9 ready for the next operation and so on. In some cases there may be an additional droplet to the top of the water when the level thereof is restored and the lowering of the level will cause the intake of a further charge in the manner previously described.

When the cistern is at rest, the surface tension of the water prevents any escape of the fluid.

Before the dispenser is put into use, the container 11 having been filled with the fluid, the ends of the limbs 5 and 6 may be sealed by removable closure means of any suitable form, as for example by caps 17 of plastic or other suitable material shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, securely fitted in place so that the fluid in the container 11 will not spill or evaporate in handling and storage, and space is provided also to allow of expansion of the fluid if exposed to heat. These caps 17 are readily removable prior to the dispenser being placed in a cistern or other place of use. Said caps 17 may be of any suitable length. In some applications of the invention, the fluid may be tinted so as to provide an indication when the container 11 is exhausted.

I claim:

1. A deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like, including a cap or cover for attach ment to a container for holding a quantity of fluid to be dispensed, and characterised by a dispensing member of substantially U-shape having its limbs extending through the said cap or cover so that the said member depends from the underside of said cap or cover, said dispensing member having one limb longer than the other and extending to a higher level above said cap or cover than the other limb, and at least one fluid supply port arranged in the said dispensing member under the said cap or cover.

2. A deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like, according to claim 1, wherein the extremities of the limb ends are cut across on the bias.

3. A deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like according to claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensing port of the dispensing member has a diameter ranging from .010" to .125.

4. A deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like, according to claim 1, wherein the limb ends of the dispensing member are each fitted through a hole in the top of the cap or cover in a liquid tight manner by a suitable sealing preparation applied about the limbs and said cap or cover.

5. A deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like, according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the limbs of the dispensing member are fitted with removable closure means after the container has been filled with fluid, and such closure means being adapted for removal prior to the dispenser being put into use.

6. A deodorising and disinfecting dispenser for flushing cisterns and the like, according to claim 5, wherein the removable closure means consists of caps of plastic or other suitable material formed for securely fitting over the limb ends of the dispensing member.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 22,277 10/1914 Great Britain. 696,081 8/1953 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A DEODORISING AND DISINFECTING DISPENSER FOR FLUSHING CISTERNS AND THE LIKE, INCLUDING A CAP OR COVER FOR ATTACHMENT TO A CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A QUANTITY OF FLUID TO BE DISPENSED, AND CHARACTERISED BY A DISPENSING MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPE HAVING ITS LIMBS EXTENDING THROUGH THE SAID CAP OR COVER SO THAT THE SAID MEMBER DEPENDS FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID CAP OR COVER, SAID DISPENSING MEMBER HAVING ONE LIMB LONGER THAN THE OTHER AND EXTENDING TO A HIGHER LEVEL ABOVE SAID CAP OR COVER THAN THE OTHER LIMB, AND AT LEAST ONE FLUID SUPPLY PORT ARRANGED IN THE SAID DISPENSING MEMBER UNDER THE SAID CAP OR COVER. 